ALA Dues Adjustment Proposal Spring Vote

NEWS
For Immediate Release
February 4, 2013

Contact: Cathleen Bourdon

ALA Council approves dues adjustment proposal

CHICAGO – On January 29^th at its meeting in Seattle during the Midwinter Meeting, the Council of the American Library Association (ALA) approved a dues adjustment proposal and directed that it be placed on the spring ALA ballot for membership approval.

If approved by the membership, a five-year dues adjustment mechanism would be established, directing the Executive Board to review personal member dues annually every September from 2013 to 2017 in consideration of a dues adjustment not to exceed the percentage change in the national average Consumer Price Index (CPI). Any increase proposed above the CPI would be subject to a mail vote of personal members, and any subsequent dues adjustment after 2017 would require approval by the ALA Executive Board, Council, and a mail vote of ALA personal members.

ALA Membership Committee chair, Kay Cassell, assistant professor, Rutgers University, presented the proposal to the Council and stated, “We wanted to find an approach that provided revenue to support ALA programs and services, but in a way that would result in small, manageable increases.”

“This dues adjustment mechanism will allow ALA to augment valuable work on its many ALA 2015 strategic initiatives including library advocacy, federal legislation, intellectual freedom, diversity, digital content, community engagement, online continuing education, and member engagement,” stated Maureen Sullivan, ALA president.

Keith Michael Fiels, ALA executive director, stated, “With an average CPI increase of 2.5% a year, this would translate into $1-$4 per year based on your membership type. These small increases spread over thousands of member will provide ALA with consistent financial resources to continue work on the goals in the ALA strategic plan in an ongoing, sustainable manner.”

A question and answer document about the dues proposal is available on the ALA Member blog. Polls for the 2013 ALA election will open on March 19^th and close on April 26^th.